Abriel St. Ange

Barcelona

What was the scariest part about thinking about study abroad? What were you worried about before you left?
The scariest part of studying abroad was knowing that I was traveling alone (without a close friend or parent). The thought of knowing that I was going to be in a country that I was not familiar with and was going to have to adapt to cultural differences other than mine worried me. Overall my greatest fear was that I would lose my passport and not be able to return home and not having a good understanding of the language.

What was the best part about studying abroad?
Studying abroad was an experience that I will cherish more than anything. I was given the opportunity to learn new customs and languages, meet friends and explore different parts of the world, while also taking courses for my degree. It can't get any better than that! Spending well over a month in the beautiful city of Barcelona was just breath-taking. The city is so beautiful and being able to see the architecture in person is worth more than just looking at a picture of it.

What would you say to someone who wasn’t sure about studying abroad?
If you are unsure if studying abroad is the thing for you, I would still recommend that you do it anyways. At first I didn't know if I would be able to travel alone and live in a place I barely knew the language, or be able to make friends with people I only saw once or twice before but it was worth it in the long run.

If at all, how do you think studying abroad changed you?
If it weren't for study abroad I wouldn't have realized that there is so much out in the world to be explored. Studying abroad also taught to have a greater appreciation for family and the little things in life. When I was abroad I realized that I shouldn't live my life in fear and that I should live life one day at a time.